A year ago MaRS Discovery District launched Studio Y, a program dedicated to working with those aged 18-25 to find “success in an increasingly complex world.” The inaugural cohort focussed on intensive training and mentoring to strengthen participants’ leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurial skills and spur social change in their communities.
Now in its second year, Studio Y is back and officially opened up applications for its 2015-16 Fellowship. Only 25 people will be selected and to be approved you have to be a resident of Ontario and legally entitled to work in Canada, and available full-time for the duration of the eight-month program (September 8, 2015 – May 9, 2016). Last year, Studio Y received over 200 applications.
Each participant receives $20,000 in direct financial assistance to cover living costs and possibly an additional $5,000 for transportation. The program is made possible through support from the Government of Ontario.
“Studio Y reimagines the future of work and learning,” said Hamoon Ekhtiari, Director of Studio Y. “The Fellowship demonstrates what becomes possible when you give young people the skills and support they need to ask big questions, pursue their ideas, work on what matters to the world and do it all by collaborating with one another.”
The name “Studio Y” was inspired by the Renaissance understanding of the word “Studio,” where work and learning were integrated. The “Y” represents “Young, Your journey, Your adventure and the ever-critical question of Why?”
Source: Studio Y